Ejector for ejecting printed articles from a printing machine



June 6, 1939. J KRELL 2,161,712

EJECTOR FOR EJECTING PRINTED ARTICLES FROM A PRINTING MACHINE Filed Feb.7, 1938 4 Sheets-Sheet l Jnremar June 6, 1939. .1. KRELL 2,161,712

PRINTED ARTICLES FROM A PRINTING MACHINE EJECTOR FOR BJECTING Filed Feb.'7, 1938 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 J. KRELL 2,161,712

PRINTING MACHINE June 6, 1939.

EJECTOR FOR EJECTING PRINTED ARTICLES FROM A 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Feb.7, 1938 Jm emar Cy. A r6// 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Jrrrenfar': U. Z4e// June 6,1939. 1 R L EJECTOR FOR EJECTING PRINTED ARTICLES FROM A PRINTINGMACHINE Filed Feb. '7, 1938 Patented June 6, 1939 UNITED STATES EJECTORFORYEJECTING PRINTED TI- CLES FROM A PRINTING MAC Joseph Krell,Berlin-Zehlendorf, Germany, as- I signor to Adrema Maschinenbauges m. b.11.,

Berlin, Germany Application February 7, 1938, Serial No. 189,199

Germany February 27, 1937 7 Claims.

My invention relates to ejectors for ejecting printed articles of anykind, such as envelopes, sheets, forms, etc., from printing machines.

It has already been proposed in address-printing machines to arrange anejector rod which is mounted to reciprocate in axial direction on thetable of the machine and is operatively connected to the drivingmechanism of the machine for moving it in forward, 1. e., ejectingdirection,

and equipped with a spring for moving the rod in backward direction intoits initial position.

My invention relates to improvements in machines of this type, it beingunderstood, however, that I am not limited'to address-printing 5machines.

One of the objects ofmy invention is to provide an ejector which is moresimple and reliable than the ejectors as designed heretofore.

To this end, in combination with an ejector rod 20 arranged asdescribed, I provide a striker lever which is fulcrumed on the frame ofthe machine, means which will be shown and described, by way of example,as a striker on the lever, and an adjustable clamp on the ejector rod,for

25 transforming the forward circular movement of the striker about thefulcrum of the striker lever into straight-line forward movement of therod, and a striker spring arranged to move the striker lever in thedirection of the forward movements.

30 A member is arranged on the printing arm for depressing the strikerlever against the action of the striker spring. during the descent ofthe printing arm, thus putting the striker spring under tension. Thestriker lever is locked in its de- 35 pressed position by a pawl, andmeans which will be shown and described, by way of example, as theprojecting end of a circular cam, is arranged on the pawl to be engagedby the member during the ascent of the printing arm, for

A 40 disengaging the pawl from the striker lever which now, under thereaction of the strong striker spring, throws the ejector rod into iejecting position.

It is another object of my invention to provide 45 improved means forholding the ejector against operation during the skipping of printingplates.

To this end, in combination with the means aforesaid, I providemechanismwhich is operatively connected to the skipping means of the illustratedmy ejector, by way of example, as adapted to an address-printingmachine.

In the drawings Fig. 1 is a perspective illustration of the elector asarranged on the table of the machine.

Figs. 2, 3, and 4 are perspective detail illustrations of the ejector,drawn to a larger scale and showing, respectively, the initial or normalposition of the ejector, an intermediate position, and the positionafter the ejector rod has com- 10 pleted its forward movement.

Referring now to the drawings, I is the table of the address-printingmachine, 2 is its oscillating printing arm, 3 is the printing head atthe free end of the arm, and 4 is the printing pad on the head .3. l'isa hopper for a supply of printing plates 5 which are intermittentlymoved to the printing station 5' along a track 6, so that a printingplate is presented to the head 3 at the printing station for every cycleof the machine. The mechanisms for oscillating the printing arm 2, forfeeding the printing plates, and for skipping certain plates, are oldand have not been illustrated.

A frame having a block l4 at its front, and a block l5 at its rear end,is secured on the table vl at the rear. An ejector rod I3 is mounted toslidein bores of the blocks with its rear end, and the vertical flangel2 of an angular ejector bar is secured to its front end. The ejectorrod extends in parallel relation to the track 6 and the table I, and theejector bar extends transversely to the track and is supported on thetable by its horizontal flange II. The flange II is folded, as best seenin. Figs. 2, 3, and 4, to form a pocket :for the reception of a similarfold III at the rear end-of a horizontal tray 8. The fold III isinserted in the pocket II in the direction of the arrow H in Fig. 1,and, to facilitate the introduction, the upper flange of the pocket H iscut away at an angle of dgs. at 12. At its oppositeend, the pocket isflattened at 43 to limit the inward movement of the fold ID in thepocket II, or a check, not shown, is arranged at this end. The tray 8 ismade of any suitable mate- 45 rial, for instance, press-spahn, and has arectangular hole for the printing plate which is at .the printingstation 5. The article to be angles to each other, and/or locating lugs9 may be pasted to the tray.

as the tray a metal for instance, a mat advantage that it its other sideoverlapping the corresponding side of the tray.

It will appear from this that the tray, being connected to the bar ll,l2, partakes in the reciprocation of the bar, and that the bar extendstransversely to the track 4 for the printing plates I, and is supportedon the table I.

As described, the ejector bar ii, I! is secured to the ejector rod llwhich is mounted to slide in its longitudinal direction and in parallelrelation to the table in the two blocks i4, Ii of the frame on'thetable. It, Figs.'2, 3, and 4,'is a clamp which is adjustabiy mounted onthe rod it between the blocks l4 and i5, and equipped with a suitablescrew for holding it on the rod. is is a pull-back spring placed aboutthe rod II between the clamp l4 and the front block i4. The spring tendsto hold the clamp it against the rear block II. In the normal or initialposition of the ejector, Fig. 2, a buffer rod 33 at the rear of theclamp, best seen in Fig, 4, bears against a bufl'er of felt, leather, orother resilient material 24 in a bore of the rear block II. A similarrod 24, for cooperation with a buffer 39 in a bore" of the front blockI4. is arranged at the front of the clamp.

Obviously, the movement of the ejector is a function of the size of thearticles placed on the tray I. The larger the size, the shorter must bethe distance between the front block and the bar ll, i2 in the initialposition Fig. 2. To regulate the throw of the ejector, the screw of theclamp i4 is loosened and, while the clamp is held against the bufler 34in the rear block it by. the pull-back spring I, the ejector rod II ispulled to the rearv through the clamp as far as required,

- and the clamp is then re-set by its screw. By

these means, the ejector bar Ii, i2 is held in the proper position withrespectto the printing station I in conformity with the size of thearticles to be printed, in the initial position'of the elector. I Y

44 is an angular dog which is pivoted on the clamp at 48. A spring, notshown, tends to urge the horizontal arm of the dog in upward direction,and this movement is limited by the vertical arm 4| of the dog bearingagainst the front face of the clamp ll.

22 is a sector-shaped striker lever which is ,fuicrumed on the frame ofthe blocks l4, It at 22. II is a strong striker spring which is securedto the lever 22 at II with one of its ends. The other end of the springis anchored on the front block l4 at 22. The arrangement of the strikerspring is such that in the initial position of the striker as shown inmg. 2 the axis of the spring extends through the axis of the fulcrumabout which the striker lever 22 oscillates.

' 2| is a striker at the lower end of thestriker lever 22 which in theinitial position bears against the back of the horizontal arm of the dog44. 24 is a lug at the upper end of the striker lever 22, and 2| is apawl which is fulcrumcd on the frame of the blocks and cooperates withthe lug 24.

' 2! .is clear of the dog u, u.

' ejector bar ll. l ,2,andthe back spring I! is compressed by the At itsupper end the pawl is made with a concave camming face I! curved to anarc of a circle about the axis of the fulcrum 22. 24 is a step at thelomr end of the camming face I, and 21 is a spring secured to the pawland anchored in the frame at 20, for pulling the pawl toward the strikerlever 22. e

In the normal position illustrated in Fig. 2, the ejector is at the rearend of its stroke and the camming face of the pawl 25 is held against,

the lug 24 by the spring 21. II is an operating member on the printingarm 2, of angular configuration and secured by a screw. when theprinting arm 2 descends from its elevated position, Fig. 1, the member3| whose elevated position is also shown in Fig. 2, descends with it,clearing the upper end of the pawl 25 but engaging, and depressing, thelug 24 and turning the striker lever 22 in downward direction againstthe action of the striker spring 30, as indicated by the arrow 22.Finally, as shown in Fig. 3, the lug 24 engages below the step 28 andthe pawl 25 which heretofore'had not moved on account of theconcentricity of its camming' face II with the are described by the endof the lug 24, is now turned against the arrow 35'. This movement of thestriker lever occurs against the striker spring III which is now understrong tension, the striker lever 22 being locked by the step 26 of thepawl. The upper end of the pawl is now in the path of the re-ascendingmember fl, and the striker While the parts of the ejector are in theintermediate position Fig. 3, the envelope or the'like 1 on the tray 8is printed. After this operation has been performed by the printingplate at the staascends to return into tion 5', the printing arm 2 Themember Ii which,

its initial position, Fig. 1. during its descent, moved clear of theupper'end of the pawl 25, now engages this end, Fig. 4, and turns thepawl in the'direction of the arrow ll, Fig. 3, against its spring 21.The step 28 of the pawl new releases the mg 24 on the striker lever 22,and the strong spring 30 abruptly returns the lever 22 into its initialposition, as shown in Fig. 4. When the member 3i has moved past theupper end of the pawl 25, Fig. 2, the spring 21 again holds the pawlagainst the lug 24 with its camming face fl, ready to lock the strikerlever upon the 'next descent of member 8|.

When the striker lever 22 is thrown over abruptly, as described, by itsstriker spring, the striker 2| strikes the arm 44 of the dog on theclamp it a smart blow, throwing in the direction of arrow 31, Fig. 3,the ejector rod It, the

tray 8 while the pullclamp it moving toward the front block i4, Fig. 4.This jerks, in manner per se known, the printed enveiope 1 away from themachine in the same direction l1, and into a suitable container. Noiseis suppressed'by the buffer rod 84 at the clamp ll striking the buflerII in the front block i4, and the movement of the ejector rod If in thedirection of arrow 31 is arrested.

Immediately after the momentum of the ejector has become exhausted, andthe bar i I, I2 and rod if have been arrested, the pullback-spring IIwhich had been compressed, returns the parts into the position shown inFig. 2. It will be understood that during the ejecting movement in thedirection of arrow 21 the striker lever 22 is rocked only through anangle corresponding to the movement of the lever from the. position inFig. 3 into the position in Fig. 4, or Fig. 2. The

lower end of the striker 2| has been elevated so far as to clear the arm44 of thedog which now returns into its position below the striker sothat the striker cannot strike the arm 44. In its rear final positionthe clamp I6 is arrested without noise by the buffer 34 in the rearblock IS.

The ejector is now ready for another operation which occurs upon thesubsequent descent of the, printing arm 2 for printing the printingplate which in the meantime has arrived at the printing station 5'.

If, however, this printing plate is one to be skipped, the striker lever22 is locked against re-' turning into its initial position, Fig. 4,from the intermediate, position, Fig. 3, by the mechanism which will nowbe described.

The mechanism is equipped with a shaft ll arranged in-parallel relationto the ejector rod l3, and mounted to rotate in bearings forming part ofthe blocks I4 and IS. The clamp I6 is grooved to clear the shaft. 46 isa crank at that end of the shaft I l which projects from the front blockll in the direction toward the printing station, and 41 is a coiledspring placed on the crank pin and connected to a pin 48 on the arm 49which forms part of the skipping mechanism. On the opposite end of theshaft I 8 is keyed a locking bolt 50 for cooperation with a stud 5| onthe striker lever 22.

While the skipping mechanism is inactive, i. e., in such position thatthe plates are printed at the station 5', pressure is exerted on the arm49 in the direction of the arrow 52 in Fig. 2, that the bolt 50 is clearof the stud 5|, and does not interfere with the oscillation of thestriker lever from the position Fig. 3 into the position in Figs. 4 and2.

If the plate at the printing station is one to be skipped, the controlof the skipping mechanism moves the arm 49 against the arrow 52 duringthe descent of printing arm 2, the crank 46 turns the shaft It in thesame direction, and the bolt 50 is moved toward the striker lever 22when the parts are in the position Fig. 3, arresting the stud 5| andpreventing upward movement 'of the striker lever 22 by its spring 30notwithstanding its release by the pawl 25. The lever consequentlycannot move from the intermediate position Fig. 3 into the position Fig.4, the ejector is not operated by the striker 2|, and the non-printedenvelope 1 remains at the printing stationuntil it has been printed, i.e., as soon as a plate to be printed has arrived at the station 5' andthe bolt 50 has again been moved clear of the stud 5| on the strikerlever 22.

The locking mechanism just described is dispensed with in machines ofthe type in which the printing arm remains in its elevated position whena printing plate is skipped, provided that each printing plate is to beprinted a single time only, as the ejector in this machine is notoperated when a plate to be skipped is at the printing station.

If it is desired to render the ejector inactive, the member 3| at theprinting arm 2 is removed or so adjusted that upon its descent it willmiss the lug 24 of the striker lever 22. The adjustment is effected byturning the member 3| through degs. about its screw on the printing arm2, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1.

I claim:

1. In an ejector for ejecting printed articles from a printing machine,an oscillating printing arm, a frame, an ejector rod mounted to slide inthe frame, a striker lever fulcrumed on the frame,

means for abruptly transforming the forward circular movement of thestriker lever into forward straight-line movement of the ejector rod, 9.spring for returning the ejector rod into its initial position, astriker spring arranged to move the ,striker lever forward against theaction of the return spring, a member on the printing arm for depressingthe striker lever against the action of the striker spring during thedescent of the printing arm, a pawl for locking the striker lever in itsdepressed position, means on the pawl adapted to be engaged by themember during the ascent of the printing arm, for disengaging the pawlfrom the striker lever, and mechanism operatively connected to theskipping means of the printing machine for holding the striker lever inits depressed position notwithstanding its release by the pawl.

2. In an ejector for ejecting printed articles from a printing machine,an oscillating printing arm, a frame, an ejector ro'd mounted to slidein the frame, a striker lever fulcrumed on the frame,

means for abruptly transforming the forward circular movement of thestriker lever into forward straight-line movement of the ejector rod, 8.spring for returning the ejector rod into its initial position, astriker spring arranged to move the striker lever forward against theaction of the return spring, a lug on the striker lever, a

member on the printing arm for engaging the lug and depressing thestriker lever against the action of the striker spring during thedescent of the printing arm, a pawl, a step on the pawl for engaging thelug and locking the striker lever in its depressed position, and meanson the pawl adapted to be engaged by the member during the ascent of theprinting arm, for disengaging the step from the lug.

3. In an ejector for ejecting printed articles from a printing machine,an oscillating printing arm, a frame, an ejector rod mounted to slide inthe frame, a striker lever fulcrumed on the frame. an adjustable clampmounted on the ejector rod, a dog fulcrumed on the clamp, a striker onthe striker lever for engaging the dog, and abruptly throwing forwardthe ejector rod, a spring for returning the ejector rod into its initialposition, inserted between the clamp and the frame, a striker springconnected to the striker lever for turning the lever so as to throw thestriker of the lever against the dog, a member on the printing arm fordepressing the striker lever against the action of the striker springduring the descent of the printing arm, a pawl .for locking the strikerlever in its depressed position, and means on the pawl adapted to beengaged by the member dur-' ing the ascent of the printing arm, fordisengaging the pawl from the striker lever.

4.'In an ejector for ejecting printed articles from a printing machine,an oscillating printing arm, a frame, a pair of spaced-apart blocks onthe frame, an ejector rod mounted to slide in the blocks, an adjustableclamp mounted on the ejector rod between the blocks, buffers on theblocks, buffer rods at opposite ends of the clamp for engaging thebuffers, a striker lever fulcrumed on the frame, a dog fulcrumed on theclamp, a striker on the striker lever for engag g the dog, and abruptlythrowing forward the ejector rod, a spring for returning the ejector rodinto its initial position, inserted between the clamp and one of theblocks, a striker spring connected to the striker lever for turning thelever so as to throw the striker of the lever against the dog, a memberon the printing arm for depressing the striker 'leve'r against theaction of the striker spring during the descent of the printing arm,

a pawl for locking the striker lever in its depressed position, andmeans on the pawl adapted to be I engaged by the member during theascent of the printing arm, for disengaging the pawl from the strikerlever.

5. In an ejector for ejecting printed articles from a printing machine,an oscillating printing arm, a frame, an ejector rod mounted to slide inthe frame, a tray including a metal foil and secured to the rod for thereception of the articles, a striker lever fulcrumed on the frame, meansfor abruptly transforming the forward circular movement I of the strikerlever into forward straight-line movement of the ejector rod, a springfor returning the ejector rod into its initial position, a strikerspring arranged to move the striker lever forward against the action of.0 the return spring, a member on the printing arm for depressing thestriker lever against the action of the striker spring during thedescent of the printing arm, a pawl for locking the strikerlever in itsdepressed position, and means on the pawl adapted to be engaged by themember during the ascent of the printing arm, for dlsengagingthe pawlfrom the striker lever.

6. In an ejector for ejecting printed articles from a printing machine,an oscillating printing arm, a frame, an ejector rod mounted to slide inthe frame, an angular ejector bar secured to the' .rod, a fold formed bythe horizontal flange of the bar, a tray for the reception of thearticles,

a fold on the tray adapted tobe inserted in the as fold of thehorizontal flange, a striker lever fulcrumed on the frame, means forabruptly transforming the forward circular movement of the striker leverinto forward straight-line movement of the ejector rod, a spring forreturning the ejector rod into its initial position, a striker springarranged to move the striker lever forward against the action of thereturn spring, a membet on the printing arm for depressingthe strikerlever against the action of the striker springduring the descent of theprinting arm, a pawl for locking the striker lever in the depressedposition, and means on the pawl adapted to be engaged by the memberduring the ascent of the printing arm, for disengaging the pawl from thestriker lever.

'7. In an ejector for ejecting printed articles from a printing machine,a table, an oscillating printing arm above the table, a frame on thetable, an ejector rod mounted to slide in the frame in parallel relationto the table, a straight-edge secured to the table and overlapping thatside of the tray toward which the articles are introduced, a strikerlever fulcrumed on the frame, means for abruptly transforming theforward circular movement of the striker lever into forwardstraight-line movement of the ejector rod, 9. spring for returning theejector rod into its initial position, a striker spring arranged to movethe striker lever forward against the action of the return spring, amember on the printing arm for depressing the striker lever against theaction of the striker springduring the descent of the printing arm, apawl for locking the striker lever in its depressed position, and meanson the pawl adapted to be engaged by the member during the ascent of theprinting arm, for disengaging the pawl from the striker lever.

JOSEPH KRELL.

